Melandri Undergoes Shoulder Surgery, Hopes To Be Ready For Start Of 2011 Season

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Marco Melandri.

Factory Yamaha World Superbike pilot Marco Melandri has undergone surgery to his right shoulder, according to a posting by the Italian on his Twitter page.

"surgery on rt shoulder went well.. long way to work to be fit at round 1," Melandri wrote earlier today.

On December 17, Melandri alerted his followers to a mysterious pain he had in his shoulder with a "tweet" that read: "waiting room for shoulder scan.. big pain with no reason, that's weird."

Then on December 20, he downplayed the situation, writing, "Everything is going good.. just getting old.... :-))) Need to be back on my R1 as soon as possible!!!!!!!!!"

But on Wednesday, December 22, he reversed course and posted, "Bad present for christmas... For sure better now then in a month... Hope to be ready for round 1."

No other details have been made available via Melandri's official website or from his team, Sterilgarda Yamaha.

Attempts to reach Melandri for comment were not immediately successful.

The 2011 FIM Superbike World Championship is scheduled to start February 25-27 at Phillip Island, in Australia, immediately following an official test February 21-22 at the same track.